Telephone



(No Model.) 3 shees-shen 1. W. D. HOUSE.

TELEPHONE.

6 O I l .JY a w MH. e oo v D 1, www 3 r a r w p An uu d M 'tv w w .fu aP M m N. Perses. mwmwgmpw. wnhingm uc.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. D. HOUSE.

TELEPHONE.

No. 380,437. Patented Apr. 8, 1888.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. D. HOUSE.

TELEPHONE.

No. 380,437. Patented Apr. 3, 1888.

@Witwen-o zo N PETERS Phnmuwagnphw, wmdngwn. uc,

:ll i UNITED STATES ATnNT trice.

IARREN D. HOUSE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR'TO THE HOUSEIMPROVED TELEPHONE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,437, dated April 3,1888.

Application tiled March l, 1887. Serial No. 929,363. (No model.)

To all whom, zit may concer-n: otparis compressed to give it stabilityand Be it known that I, WARREN D. HOUSE, a saturated with an aqueoussolution-said body citizen ot' the United States, residing atKansasbeing' preferably provided with a removable City, in the county ofJackson and State of cover, E, ot the saine material, and inclosing 5Missouri, have invented certain new and usean electrolytic solution, F,used to maintain 55 ful Improvements in Telephones; and I do saturationof the main bodyD and cover E. hereby declare the following to be afull, Upon the exterior surface ofthe coverErests clear, and exactdescription ot the invention, the axially-revolving electrode G, mountedsuch as Will enable others skilled in the art to upon a rotary shaft, H,supported in suitable ro which it appertains to make and use the same.bearings, as I I' l. The shaft H may receiveo In Letters Patent of theUnited States its motion from any suitable actuating mechgranted to meMarch l, 1887, and numbered anism driven from some convenient source of358,812, I have described au apparatus for power. In the drawings I haveshown for telephonicreceiving,whereinthetransrnittingthis purpose acrank-shaft, J, with handle K,

15 currents corresponding to the sound-waves said shaft being providedwith a fixed pinion 65 Were caused to set into molecular vibration ofmeshing with the teeth of a Wheel, L, fixed like character a body ofvibratory electrolytic upon a sleeve, M, said sleeve being adapted tomaterial in contact with a moving electrode, be locked to the shaft H,so as to revolve therethereby reproducing the original sounds. with, bymeans of a set-screw,f, or its equiva- 20 The object of my lpresentinvention is to furlent, having longitudinal play within a groove, 7o

nish a modiiied construction of the instruf. At its inner end the shaftII is encircled ments therein described, of simple, econoniiby thecoiled spring N, bearing at one end cal, and durable character, andwhich will against the arm lt and at its other end against readilymaintain its efficiency throughout a the sliding collar Q, which restsagainst the adlong period of use. justing-nut R traveling in a screw-thread upon 75 To this end myinvcntion consists in the arthe shaft. Bymeans of this device the elecrangement illustrated in the accompanyingtrede G is forced against the electrolytic body drawings, vherein- Ewith a pressure that may be regulated at Figure l represents a sideelevation, partly will by means of the adjusting-nut R.

3o in section, of one form ofmyinvention. Fig. 2 The operation of thisportion of my inven- 8o represents asectional view taken upon thelinetion will be apparent, the instrument being a: x of Fig. l. Fig.3represents a side elevaconnected up in accordance with the condition andpartial section oi'amodilication of the tions prescribed in my aforesaidpatent. Durinvention. Fig. 4 represents a section taken ing the passageof the transmitting currents 55 upon the line y y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5represents the shaft H is revolved, thereby causing the 85 asideelevation and partial section of still anelectrode G, which is held withpressure other modification of the invention; and Fig. against thevibratory electrolytic material, to 6 represents a rear elevationthereof,taken on revolve with friction againsst the surface of the linez z of Fig. 5. the latter. Molecular electrolytic vibrations, 4o Similarletters of reference indicate similar in character corresponding to thereceived 9o parts throughout the several views. currents, are setup,and, being imparted to the Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the instrument asair, reproduce the original sounds. The large therein illustratedconsists of a box or casing, surface of contact between the electrolyticA, provided Withasuitable aperture,u, across body and theaxially-revolving opposite elec- 45 Whichis securedconducting-bodyC,preferably trode, as shown in Figs. l and 2, insures the 95 of carbon.To the inner surface of this conproduction of the requisite state ofpolarizaducting body C is electrically connected a tion when theelectrolytic body is of high rebody, D, of vibratory electrolyticmaterial of sistance. the character describedin my patent above re- Whenthe electrolytic body is of compararo ferred to-as, for instance, a bodyof plastertively low resistance, I find it desirable to have loo 'bevaried to correspond'to the particular requirements of use.

In Figs. 3, 5, and 6 I have illustrated another means of rotating theaxially-revolving electrode G, said iigures exhibiting the samearrangement of parts therefor.

The axially-revolving electrode G is affixed` to a shaft, H', mounted insuitable standards, as I3 I", said shaft being provided with the fixedcog'wheel L', engaging with a pinion fixed on a shaft, J'. The shaft J'has affixed thereto a cog-wheel, K', intermeshing with a worm formedupon the shaft M', constituting a prolongation of the armature-shaft ofthe electric motor T, attached to the bottom of the casing, and whichmay be of any adequate construction.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the electrolytic bodyD', with its carbon, facing C', is held in an annulaihollowrim casingI), filled with a saturating solution, F', having a feed-opening closedby a screwplug, b, the whole constitutinga saturated diaphragm supportedat its edges. It is apparent that the form of the diaphragm may bevariedwithin wide limits.

The diaphraginsupport S is hinged, as at c, to the casing A', and at itsupper end is fastened a spring, d, against which bears a setscrew, e,whereby the requisite degree of pressure between the diaphragm and theelectrode G may be secured. The mouth-piece V, having an opening, a', ishinged, as at c', to the casing A', and has an internally-screw threadedaperture, within which engages the externally-screw-threadedadjustingscrew e. At the upper edge of the mouth-piece V is aspring-catch, g, engaging with a springcatch, h, attached to the innerwall ofthe casing A', said engagement being releasable at will by meansof the push-pin i.

Inthe form of myinvention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the parts lettered asin Figs. 3 and 4 correspond to similarly designated parts in said latterfigures.

In this modification the diaphragm is composed of rectangular plates D2and C2 of electrolytic material and carbon, respectively, said platesfastened to the support S in any suitable manner.ThesaturatingsolutionFiis contained in a receptacle, P,fastened to theupper portion of the compound diaphragm, as shown. Ab-

sorption of the saturating solution is facilitated by conducting it tovarious parts of the diaphragm by means of grooves or channels jintermediate between the plates D2 and C", the said grooves or channelsbeing closed at one end.

The operation of the modifications shown in Figs. 3 and et and in Figs.5 and 6 is similar to that already described with reference to Figs. 1and 2.

It will be understood that any of the three forms described may beemployed also as a transmitter when connected up with a receiver in theordinary manner employed in variable contact-transmitters, theadjustment of the circuitcontrolling electrodes (which consists of theelectrolytic body and its opposing electrede) being regulated by meansof the springpressing devices shown in eachof the figures.- Whenoperated either as transmitters or receivers, the resistance of thepolarizing-battery should preferably be approximately that of theelectrolytic body.

It will be noted that in all three forms of my invention the sameportion of the electrolytic body is constantly in contact with theopposite electrode. This arrangement insures aneven and constantadjustment of the instrument, the continuance of use increasing theintimacy of contact between the opposing surfaces.

l. In a telephone, lthe combination, with a body of vibratoryelectrolytic material, of an opposite electrode and means for moving thetwo relatively to each other, the same portion ofthe electrolyticbodybeing constantly in contact with said electrode, substantially asdescribed. e

2. A telephone provided with a body of vibratory electrolytic materialand an opposite axiallyrevolving-plate electrode in contact therewith,substantially as described.

3. A telephone provided with a body of vibratory electrolytic material,and an opposite axially revolving-plate electrode having its edge inContact with said electrolytic body, substantially as described.

4. A telephone provided with a diaphragm of vibratory electrolyticmaterial having a facing of conducting material and a rim-casingcontaining a saturating solution, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VARREN D. HOUSE.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. PENNIE, H. W. ELMORE.

IOO

